67Benoit Pouliot LW

Player Updates

April 24, 2018 08:52 PM

Sabres' Benoit Pouliot: Notches 19 points in 2017-18

by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

Pouliot's 2017-18 season ended with 13 goals and 19 points in 74 games.

Before the 2016-17 campaign, Pouliot had three consecutive seasons with over 34 points. Pouliot appears to be on the down slope of his career, and he doesn't carry the physical grit (69 hits) that keeps players like him in the league, so it'll interesting to see what franchise bites on him if he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.

February 25, 2018 08:44 PM

Sabres' Benoit Pouliot: Gets on scoreboard Sunday

by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

Pouliot found the back of the net and skated to a plus-2 rating in Sunday's 4-1 home win over the Bruins.

This was a case of Pouliot being at the right place at the right time. Defenseman Victor Antipin fired the puck at Anton Khudobin, only for the forward to storm toward the net and scoop up the deflection for his 12th goal of the season. There have been rumors that Pouliot could be on the move, as he's only costing the Sabres $1.15 million on a one-year deal before he'll be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent.

January 12, 2018 07:56 AM

Sabres' Benoit Pouliot: Scores in return to lineup

by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

Pouliot scored a goal and logged 17:44 of ice time during Thursday's 3-1 win over Columbus.

The veteran winger has been a healthy scratch in two of the past four games, but he skated exclusively with Jack Eichel on Thursday. It might be a fleeting assignment, but Pouliot's fantasy value will receive a notable boost for the duration of his stay on the No. 1 line. There are worse speculative grabs in deep settings, and it's not out of the question to look Pouliot's way in daily contests.

January 10, 2018 07:32 AM

Sabres' Benoit Pouliot: Scratched Tuesday

by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

Pouliot was a healthy scratch against the Jets on Tuesday.

Pouliot was watching from the press box for the second time in the previous three games. While it may not be the only factor, a 10-game pointless streak has no doubt figured into coach Phil Housley's decision to bench the winger. Selected fourth overall in the 2005 NHL Draft, the 31-year-old has not exactly lived up to expectations, as he has just 125 goals and 130 assists in 592 career games.

December 6, 2017 10:17 AM

Sabres' Benoit Pouliot: Three points against Avs

by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

Pouliot scored his seventh goal of the season and added two helpers in Tuesday's win over the Avalanche.

It was a rare offensive explosion from Pouliot, who has just 10 points in 28 games. He was scoring at a decent rate earlier in the season, but this was just his first appearance on the scoresheet in 10 contests. Pouliot can be of value in deeper leagues, but he's too inconsistent and doesn't see enough power-play time to warrant a play in most shallow formats.

Pouliot will not face any supplemental discipline for his check to the head of Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle in Friday night's loss.

The NHL Department of Player Safety determined that Pouliot was not intentionally targeting Yandle's head on the play, so the winger, who's been a pleasant surprise with five goals and a helper over his last eight games, avoids any kind of fine or suspension. Pouliot is set to play in Saturday night's road contest against the Habs.

November 11, 2017 10:04 AM

Sabres' Benoit Pouliot: League reviewing questionable hit

by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

Pouliot will be subjected to a hearing with the NHL's safety division concerning his illegal check to the head of Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle in Friday night's game.

No penalty was assessed on the play, but that doesn't mean Pouliot is out of the woods just yet. Fantasy owners with shares in the Canadian really have to be hoping he won't be suspended because he's stealthily managed five goals with an assist over the last eight games.

November 9, 2017 12:40 PM

Sabres' Benoit Pouliot: Heating up with new linemates

by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

With a goal Tuesday against Washington, Pouliot has now scored four points in his past three games.

After playing just 14 minutes in the season opener and seeing his ice time dip to 10 minutes five games into the season, Pouliot has finally found a home on a line with Ryan O'Reilly and Kyle Okposo. He now averages between 16-17 minutes per game, and head coach Phil Housley has been very happy with the results after promoting him. Pouliot can still be a feast or famine scorer who went from 19 goals in his first season with Edmonton to just eight goals last year, but it looks like he's got the hot hand with all five of his goals this season coming within the past two weeks. Pouliot is worth a flyer for owners looking for some additional scoring in deep leagues, but he's still not a viable long-term option.

November 3, 2017 12:09 PM

Sabres' Benoit Pouliot: Lights lamp twice in high-scoring win

by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

Pouliot poured in two goals and an assist in Thursday's 5-4 win over the Coyotes.

Pouliot's productive outing helped his team develop a 5-1 lead, with his third-period tally turning into the game-winner when Arizona closed the gap to one goal. The journeyman forward has shown tantalizing flashes like this performance throughout his career, but has never quite been able to put it all together with underwhelming career highs of 19 goals and 36 points.

October 26, 2017 02:00 AM

Sabres' Benoit Pouliot: Scores lone goal Tuesday

by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

Pouliot scored the only goal in Tuesday's 1-0 win over the Red Wings.

Pouliot made a rare appearance at center Tuesday since Zemgus Girgensons (lower body) didn't suit up. He wasn't expected to make much of an impact in a fourth-line role, but Pouliot turned out being the savior of an otherwise defensive game. The veteran winger now has a goal in two consecutive games, and he'll have a chance to extend his streak Wednesday against the Blue Jackets.

With Zemgus Girgensons (lower body) doubtful for Tuesday's game against Detroit and Sam Reinhart playing on Ryan O'Reilly's wing, Buffalo's shortage of centers is forcing head coach Phil Housley to deploy Pouliot at center. A career winger, Pouliot doesn't have much experience playing in the middle, but linemates Jordan Nolan and Justin Bailey are even less appetizing options. Pouliot's scored two points this season and is averaging 12:50 per game, so his impact was already pretty minimal. Housley will likely lean on his top three lines against a skilled Detroit squad.

July 1, 2017 07:04 PM

Sabres' Benoit Pouliot: Headed to Buffalo

by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

Pouliot secured a one-year, $1.15 million contract with the Sabres on Saturday, Bob McKenzie of TSN reports.

Pouliot was bought out of the remaining two years of his previous contract with the Oilers following a campaign in which he totaled just 14 points over 67 games for the club. The fourth overall pick in 2005, Pouliot 's 2016-17 campaign was a major disappointment, but he will look to get back on track following a change of scenery to earn another long-term deal. For now, he will settle for a one-year tryout with the Sabres. It's still a guess where Pouliot might slot into the lineup, but he will most likely play a bottom-six role and provide a much-needed veteran presence up front. His ability to play both wings competently gives new coach Phil Housley a lot of flexibility in his lineup. Fantasy-wise, Pouliot is only a thought in very deep leagues.

June 29, 2017 01:20 PM

Benoit Pouliot: Waived by Oilers

by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

Pouliot was placed on waivers by Edmonton on Thursday in order to buy him out of his contract.

The move to buy out Pouliot will save the Oilers $2.6 million over the next two seasons before costing them $1.3 million in cap space from 2019-21. The 30-year-old saw his ice time drop by two minutes compared to the prior year and was only able to record eight goals and six helpers. It's unlikely that a club will step up to take the full burden of the Ontario native's deal, but he could find a new home once he clears waivers. Pouliot never played 70 games in a season during his time in Edmonton, which could be a red flag for fantasy owners, but those willing to take a risk might wind up with a 30-plus-point scorer -- depending on where he lands.

May 3, 2017 10:00 AM

Oilers' Benoit Pouliot: Continues to see limited ice time

by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

Pouliot played just 11:49 in Edmonton's Game 3 loss to Anaheim on Sunday.

Pouliot has yet to record a point through nine postseason games and is rarely seeing more than 12 minutes of ice time in games that don't go to overtime. His value is extremely limited until he proves otherwise.

March 9, 2017 05:37 PM

Oilers' Benoit Pouliot: Likely to return Friday

by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

Pouliot (undisclosed) said Thursday that he is feeling good and healthy and will likely slot back into the Oilers' lineup for Friday night's showdown with the Penguins.

While it can sometimes be risky to take players at their own word regarding injuries, the Oilers have been cautious with Pouliot's timetable, so there's no reason to think he won't be ready to go Friday after a 10-game absence. All the same, the winger has just three assists and a minus-3 rating since the calendar turned to 2017, so he isn't much of a fantasy asset in most formats.

March 8, 2017 01:57 PM

Oilers' Benoit Pouliot: Inching closer to return

by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

Pouliot (undisclosed) has been cleared for contact and "getting quite close to returning," per Oilers coach Todd McLellan.

While the low-end fantasy winger won't play Tuesday against the Islanders, he appears poised to come back with the Penguins in town Friday. Pouliot is good for the occasional goal or assist -- he's scored five times with just as many helpers in 51 games this season -- but the 30-year-old is caught in a bottom-six role, and that's not an ideal situation for such an enigmatic player.

March 7, 2017 02:49 PM

Oilers' Benoit Pouliot: Cleared for contact

by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

Pouliot (undisclosed) can start taking contact at practice, but is still not ready to suit up against the Islanders on Tuesday.

Following Tuesday's clash, the Oilers have two potential practice days that could allow Pouliot the time he needs absorb some contact in preparation of returning to the lineup. The winger, who has been sidelined for Edmonton's last nine outings, was stuck in a rut prior to getting hurt, as he was in the midst of a 26-game goal drought. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, the 30-year-old has been unable to compile much in terms of stats over that stretch with just four helpers, eight PIM and 16 blocked shot.

The Ontario native remains on injured reserve and unfortunately will be missing his seventh straight contest. This is a situation to avoid, especially with the Oilers being mum about the nature of the forward's issue.

February 18, 2017 05:20 PM

Oilers' Benoit Pouliot: Lands on IR

by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

Pouliot (undisclosed) has been placed on injured reserve, the Oilers announced Saturday.

With the designation retroactive to when he sustained the injury on Feb. 11, he will at least miss a couple games. However, Pouliot has not been a hot start lately. He has no points in the last seven games, has seen his ice time shrink, and hasn't scored a goal since Dec. 8.

Pouliot was reportedly "banged up in practice," and he could be looking at a multi-game absence. The Oilers' depth at forward will be tested while the veteran winger is in recovery mode, but his availability shouldn't be of any concern to fantasy owners. The big-bodied forward has only notched three points in his last 25 games, and he only has 10 points on the season, keeping him off the fantasy radar in most formats. Iiro Pakarinen (leg) is expected to slot into Pouliot's spot in the lineup for Tuesday's contest.